unity and U.D.K

unity

we were shown a program called unity. 

this program enables us to be able to create our own terrain for a game. it lets you add in different things for example. the time of day is changeable, also the type of water you can use can be changed, from purely decorational to water that you can swim in. 

creating a terrain is quite simple. after getting a basic canvas to create your environment. you can start to manipulate it by raising the level of the floor to create mountains or craters. there is a range of different shape brushes that help to give of different effects with the mountains or craters.

the foliage and trees are also just as simple. after choosing a texture for the foliage you can then start to paint it onto your terrain, you can choose how dense you want it to be. unfortunately the tree and foliage brush is a bit irritating to use since you cant see the brush unless you zoom in very very close.

despite this small problem, unity is a good easy program to use.  

during being showed how to use unity, we were given time to play around and create our own terrain, using what we know.

i started to create one of my own. surrounding it in water and making them look like tropical islands. 

Unreal Development Kit

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLA2DE3D64B848BC63&feature=plcp

we were also shown how to use the unreal development kit to create a game terrain. this one was a more enjoyable and interesting program to use. it was simple and over all the look of the finished terrain was allot better than in unity. the textures were nicer and you have also got the ability to import or use pre set 3d models. for example you can import things such as pillars , chain fences and more.

like unity you are able to change the time but in this program you can also change and add in different light sources.     

when making a terrain you can put it inside of a hollow box to create a kind of room, and since you have the ability to chop away at parts with different shapes you could create a series of rooms. because of the many different shapes for making things, you can make stairs and extra levels. the possibilities of what is able to be made is allot bigger in this program.  

unfortunately in U.D.K you are not able to create things such as bushes, trees or water.